| Dave Walsh |
08-10-2016 12:10 |
Re: St James Church, St James Rd, Church (AKA "Church Kirk Church")
Not been on here for a while but i'm a bit shocked by this news. I came down to Sussex from Rammy last week and then my brother Phil alerted me to the fact that the Church is up for offers on Right Move-presumably along with the Model Lodging House next to Hargreaves Mill. Didn't see that one coming either. I was in Church Kirk [2014] looking in the Registers for Walsh's as part of family research. Two guys were in there doing repairs at the time but it all looked in very good condition to me overall.
According to the Accy Observer [14/9/15] there was a search going on for a suitable Community use after the building closed in November but the Church Commissioners [in "that London"] went ahead with putting it on the Market, anyway despite Graham Jones MP being involved. Apparently two attempted break ins have led to a "safety risk" as there is a "duty of care". Whether that's to local residents or the criminals is not clear. It reminds me of when the Womad Festival had a very eccentric and surprising outpost in Morecambe during the nineties. Bemused locals really took it to heart and you would see some surreal conjunctions but when finances got tight it wasn't Reading that took a hit but poor [literally] old [definetly] Morecambe.
Clearly Church Kirk is the finest assetts in the District [which I know is at a low ebb generally]. Everything that's currently derelict would be highly valued in other parts. Even the fact that you've got the longest stretch of canal nationally without those pesky locks is a great thing. I will come up for another look around when I'm back in Ramsbottom next month.
Dave W
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